Some East Dayton residents feel forgotten in State of the City address

by Shavon Dayton

Some East Dayton residents feel forgotten in State of the City address (WKEF/WRGT)

DAYTON, Ohio (WKEF/WRGT) - Addressing a crowd at City Hall, Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley rolled out the State of the City Wednesday morning, touting job creation, new businesses and partnerships. However, some East Dayton residents are left wondering.

"Why are we not getting any mention at all?" said Josh Matthews.

Matthews thinks the city has swept them under the rug, forgetting families impacted by the Food For Less fire, and doing little for boarded up businesses and properties.

"I would personally like to invite Nan Whaley to come down here herself, walk around the neighborhood,” he told Fox 45’s Shavon Anderson.

The mayor touched on everything from recent health care expansion in Old North Dayton, to future plans in West Dayton and downtown. Whaley also spoke on the Aldi in Westown Shopping Center slated to close this spring, leaving a void in the community. East Dayton is in the same situation, according to Matthews.

"It's not that we're not asking for help,” he said. “It's just that maybe we don't have a big organization like the NAACP over here sticking up for our neighborhood like they do where they're shutting down Good Sam and everything else."

"I guess you can argue what the city's doing and what they aren’t,” said Thomas Miller, who lives near Food For Less.

Miller thinks there are resources out there, but a lot rests on residents.

"It's all about whether or not somebody wants to put forth the initiative to go get it."

Fox 45 also talked with John Aldridge, who has lived in the city since 1964. He wants better infrastructure and more first responders. But, he believes families need to step up.

"Get the homeowners together,” he said. “Police our own neighborhoods. Maybe not neighborhood watch, but if we start working at it, we can help [the city] find the places they need to look at."

Matthews just wants city officials to pay attention.

"It's their job to look out for us,” he said. “That's what we elect them for."

Fox 45 left a voicemail and email with the city about residents concerns. We haven’t heard back.